Is Candida a Legitimate Medical Condition?

At a gathering recently, I learned that a number of people in one family had been medically diagnosed with chronic systemic mucocutaneous candidiasis – a whole body infection of candida, infecting the skin and mucous membranes.  Candida is a fungus.

So it is a real disease and the above diagnosis is a severe form of the condition.  Many of you may have a milder form of candida which always starts in the digestive tract.  We have a normal number of candida organisms in our digestive tract and what we consume and how we live can increase these numbers.

How can you tell if you have Candida?

Common symptoms are bloating, fatigue, irritability, cravings, pms, skin problems, other infections and many other symptoms.

Antibiotic use, sugary foods, prescription medication, white flour foods, alcohol and poor digestive enzyme production can easily cause an over proliferation of candida micro-organisms.

Is there a test to see if I have candida?

Yes, a scientific test has been developed which only requires a small finger prick sample of blood and your results are available during your Naturopathic appointment.  An easy to follow treatment plan is then arranged for you to get your energetic and vibrant health back.

No super restricted diets and no impossible regimes to follow.  We now have natural medicines that are powerful enough to eradicate the candida overgrowth and restore the normal balance to your system.

Phone or email me now to book your appointment and your candida blood test - 04 2121 8469
romiprana@hotmail.com

By now, you've heard it everywhere—the long list of reasons to quit sugar. 
A few of the most compelling are:

• Sugar creates an addictive cycle of hunger, fatigue and moodiness. It initially spikes blood sugar, causing us to feel energized and happy. But since it's devoid of real nutrition, blood sugar quickly plummets, leaving us tired, hungry and moody. So we reach for more sugar ... 
• Sugar causes excess storage of fat: It triggers the body to produce insulin, which tells fat cells to store more. Yikes!
• Sugar causes inflammation. This causes pain and is seen as a precursor to heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The good news is that it takes only five days to dramatically reduce the body’s dependence on sugar, by eliminating refined sugar from your diet. That includes most processed foods (because they contain loads of added sugar), condiments, candy, baked goods and sweetened beverages, including those with artificial sweetners. Also watch out not to overindulge in fruit – aim for no more than 1 serving a day. 
The downside is that sugar cravings can be intense in those 5 days, which is why you need ninja moves. Certain foods can reduce cravings and balance the body, getting you over the hump much easier.
Here’s what to eat to detox from sugar and stay satisfied & sane:
1. High protein, fat and fiber foods
Here’s why they're great: They're highly satisfying and keep the body full for longer. Make sure every meal and snack contains them. Contrary to popular belief, real saturated fat actually reduces cholesterol.
Good options: eggs, nuts, avocados, olive oil, hummus, salmon or antibiotic free chicken.
2. Green leafy vegetables instead of bread, pasta and refined carbohydrates
Here’s why they're great: Bread is quickly converted to sugar, creating the same cycle, but vegetables are complex carbohydrates, which keep you satiated for hours. They take longer to digest – expect to feel full 30 minutes after eating a salad.
Good options: Arugula and kale are great for detoxing.
3. Sour foods
Here’s why: They knock out a sugar craving.
Good options: Sauerkraut or kimchi. 
4. Pure dark chocolate 
Here’s why: It releases endorphins without spiking your sugar.
Good options: Bakers Cooking Chocolate, which is 100% cacao.
5. Drink more water
Here’s why: This makes you feel full and flushes excess sugar out of the body, thus reducing the craving. Bonus, it can help you lose weight. 
I hope this helps. For a guided detox complete with meal plans try my Energy Detox Plan for two weeks -
Email me at romiprana@hotmail.com

  Your body has tight control over your acid alkaline balance.  This is so necessary, as one point above or below normal in your blood means you will die.  I kid you not.  If your body is building up acids, these cannot be transported through the blood, so your blood dumps these acids into the fluid mediums such as saliva and joint spaces.

Our whole world and lifestyle conspires to creating excess acidity.  From our diet, to pollution, our water, stress and thousands of other elements.  There are only five things that allow us to alkalize adequately – Rest, Relaxation, Fruit, Vegetables and Minerals.

Rest is 8 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep each night, with some of that time before midnight.

Relaxation times are the fun, calm activities you do such as yoga, throw a Frisbee, non-competitive fun things.

Fruit is alkalizing, even though some have obvious acids such as citric acid in oranges and lemons.  These organic acids are used in the Energy Cycle of the body and the remaining ash is alkaline.

Vegetables are very alkalizing and I recommend you choose potato, sweet potato and pumpkin over grain carbohydrates such as wheat, rice, rye, bread, pasta, pastries.  Super acidic and to be avoided are white flour foods such as cakes, biscuits, deserts,  etc.

Protein foods such as egg, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, while acidic do not cause the usual acid problems because the kidneys have a special affinity for protein foods and allow the excretion of these acids to proceed easily.  The same cannot be said for the acids remaining from the digestion of grain foods.  Increasing vegetables and decreasing grain based foods is so beneficial in assisting the acid alkaline balance of the body.

You can monitor your saliva pH using pH paper which is available with a guide booklet for only $22.50.  You will experience greater vitality and reduce any painful conditions dramatically.

For purchases and more information, contact Romi on 07 5554 5661 or romiprana@hotmail.com

As a Naturopath, I receive a lot of information about how our food is grown and processed.

Sometimes I think to myself that ignorance is bliss when I read some of these articles.

Firstly I'll give you the latest findings from the US on which foods are best purchased organic and those that are possibly acceptable that are not organic. Then following this, I'll reveal an article on the process mandarines go through to extend their shelf life.

Many of us cannot afford to buy everything organic, but some things I will only buy organic, such as the kale I put in my green smoothie.  If it has a protective skin like a banana or avocado, I'll often buy these from the supermarket.

There is a lot you can do to preserve your good health and food selection is only one of them.  For more help with your health concerns, please make an appointment to see me soon.

Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) annual Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce.2

Of the 48 different fruit and vegetable categories tested by the EWG for the 2013 guide, the following 15 fruits and vegetables had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy or grow organically:

Apples
Celery
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers
Grapes
Hot peppers
Nectarines
Peaches
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet bell peppers
Kale
Collard greens
Summer squash 

In contrast, the following foods were found to have the lowest residual pesticide load, making them the safest bet among conventionally grown vegetables. Note that a small amount of sweet corn and most Hawaiian papaya, although low in pesticides, are genetically engineered (GE). If you’re unsure of whether the sweet corn or papaya is GE, I’d recommend opting for organic varieties:

Asparagus
Avocado
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Sweet corn (non-GMO)
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Mango
Mushrooms
Onions
Papayas (non-GMO. Most Hawaiian papaya is GMO)
Pineapple
Sweet peas (frozen)
Sweet potatoes

Shelf life of organic mandarins
Conventional mandarins are dipped in a chemical called Dimethoate, an organophosphate pesticide. This chemical is banned in most western countries but has only been suspended in Australia since late 2011 (reference). Demethoate is still allowed in Australia as a post-harvest dip chemical on produce with inedible skins such as mangoes, bananas and citrus fruits. It is also allowed as a pre-harvest chemical on crops such as beans, peas and sweet corn (reference). After being dipped in dimethoate, the mandarins are then sprayed with paraffin wax giving them a 3 week shelf life.

Organic mandarins grown in the Byron Bay hinterland have a much shorter shelf life than conventional mandarins as you are getting fruit grown without chemicals picked straight off the tree. We recommend keeping them in the fridge.